Parts of the plant used:

The dried fruits or “seeds”.

How is it used?

Milk thistle can be ingested as tea or, more commonly, as capsules, extracts or tinctures. Intravenous application of milk thistle compounds is applied by physicians in Germany to treat intoxications caused by certain species of mushrooms. The therapeutic compounds are not readily soluble in water, which is why the tea is of lesser medicinal value, compared to a standardized extract.

What is it used for?

This plant contains a group of compounds (silybin, silydianin and silychristin) which are collectively known by the name of Silymarin. These compounds are used to treat gastrointestinal problems, especially those related to the liver, such as cirrhosis, hepatitis and the effects of certain mushroom (Amanita) toxins. Milk thistle is sometimes combined with other herbs with similar properties, such as artichoke and mallow, for example. Extracts seem to possess a greater medicinal value than teas or capsules, but this may vary. Seek professional advice on this matter. Milk thistle may be beneficial in protecting the liver against toxicity shown by some types of medications, but more research is necessary in order to validate this.